Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Frontstretch Newsletter: Stewart Out Once Again?

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
August 20th, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition CIL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What to Watch: Wednesday:

- Today is the official start of Bristol's race weekend.  The Camping World Truck Series teams have been at the track since yesterday for inspection, but on-track action will begin this morning at 10 a.m. with a 50-minute session.  A 90-minute session will then serve as Happy Hour after Lunch.  They will not be televised.  The rest of the on-track activity for the trucks will be televised as shown below.  Also, the Bush's Beans 150 combination race for the Whelen Modified Tour and Whelen Southern Modified Tour will not be televised today.  It will be tape-delayed and cut before airing on August 31 at noon on FOX Sports 1.

Today's TV Schedule

Time                                        Telecast                                                                                                           Network

4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.                Camping World Truck Series Qualifying                                                           FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.                NASCAR America                                                                                            NBC Sports Network
8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.                NCWTS Setup                                                                                                  FOX Sports 1
8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.             Camping World Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Zloop                           FOX Sports 1

~~~~~~~~~~

Top News
by the Frontstretch Staff

Editor's Note: With the new website, we'll provide only a PARTIAL read of the news in the Newsletter with a link to the top story on our website. With the "new" Frontstretch, there will be far more times the website is updated 24/7 so be sure to check the website for all the latest news and information on NASCAR!

Report: Tony Stewart To Sit Out Bristol; Jeff Burton In For Second Straight Weekend

According to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's Dave Moody, Tony Stewart will miss his third straight Sprint Cup Series race in a row following the August 9th tragedy at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park that resulted in the death of 20-year-old driver Kevin Ward, Jr. Jeff Burton will continue to fill in driving the No. 14 Chevy. Read more.

Michigan TV Ratings Up Over Last Year

On Tuesday, ESPN released the official rating and viewership numbers for their coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. For the second straight week, viewership trended up. Read more.

Martin Truex, Jr. and Furniture Row Racing Partner With World Vision for Two Races

Martin Truex, Jr.'s car will feature a crystal clear paint scheme …. regarding water, that is. Truex will have World Vision on his car for the next two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Bristol and Atlanta, respectively. Read more.

Camping World Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Zloop Entry List: 38 trucks entered

Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 0
- Ryan Ellis for JJC Racing

No. 19 - Brad Keselowski for Brad Keselowski Racing

No. 36 - Blake Koch for MB Motorsports

No. 51 - Kyle Busch for Kyle Busch Motorsports

 

Driver Changes:
No. 05
- John Wes Townley returns to the seat, replacing Travis Kvapil. Townley sat out the last two races after a hard wreck in ARCA qualifying at Pocono.
No. 07 - B.J. McLeod returns to the seat, replacing Todd Peck. McLeod is part of a rotating group of drivers sharing this ride based on funding.
No. 0 - Ryan Ellis returns to the seat, replacing Caleb Roark. This truck start-and-parks for Jennifer Jo Cobb.

No. 8 - John Hunter Nemechek returns to the seat, replacing his father Joe Nemechek. John Hunter is running all races he's approved for in Trucks based on NASCAR's under-18 rule.

No. 9 - Brennan Newberry returns to the seat, replacing Jason White. Newberry is running a limited schedule for the team this season.
No. 19 - Brad Keselowski returns to the seat, replacing Joey Logano. Keselowski is running a limited schedule, along with Penske Racing's Joey Logano to fill out the races rookie Tyler Reddick is not running.

No. 20 - Gray Gaulding returns to the seat, replacing Austin Dillon. Gaulding is running a limited schedule for the team this season.
No. 23 - Max Gresham returns to the seat, replacing Spencer Gallagher. Gresham is running a limited schedule for the team this season.
No. 28 - Bryan Dauzat is in the seat, replacing Ryan Ellis.  If Dauzat qualifies, he will be making his Camping World Truck Series debut.

No. 32 - Ben Rhodes returns to the seat, replacing Tayler Malsam. Rhodes is running a limited schedule based on NASCAR's under-18 rule.
No. 36 - Blake Koch returns to the seat, replacing Scott Stenzel. This truck is the start-and-park effort for MB Motorsports.

Drivers who must qualify on speed:

No. 00 - Cole Custer for Stewart-Haas Racing
No. 01 - Jake Crum for Jake Crum Racing
No. 03 - Mike Affarano for Affarano Motorsports

No. 05 - John Wes Townley for Athenian Motorsports

No. 0 - Ryan Ellis for JJC Racing*

No. 23 - Max Gresham for GMS Racing

No. 25 - Justin Boston for Venturini Motorsports. If Boston qualifies on speed, he will be making his Camping World Truck Series debut.

No. 28 - Bryan Dauzat for FDNY Racing

No. 33 - Brandon Jones for Turner Scott Motorsports

No. 36 - Blake Koch for MB Motorsports*
No. 75 - Caleb Holman for Henderson Motorsports

No. 80 - Jody Knowles

No. 92 - Corey LaJoie for RBR Enterprises

*- Expected to start-and-park

 

Not Entered:
No. 57
- Adam Edwards for Norm Benning Racing (start-and-park truck)


Have news for Ashley and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.

~~~~~~~~~~

Today's Featured Commentary
Old Story, New Perspective
Professor of Speed
by Mark Howell

I wish my mother was still alive.

She passed away almost sixteen years ago, to the day but the power of her insights and the clarity of her thinking remains with me still. My mother possessed a line of reasoning that sometimes challenged popular belief, but her logic more often than not defied conventional wisdom.

My mother diagnosed the late Tim Richmond's health problems long before they became public knowledge. As soon as Richmond started missing races because of flu-like symptoms or other mysterious ailments, she immediately thought about this condition known as AIDS and how Richmond's issues closely matched those emerging in news reports about the then nearly-almost-fatal disease.

By 1989, her diagnosis proved to be correct, the perfect deduction from a woman with an eighth-grade education. Maybe it was all those hours spent watching television programs like Perry Mason and Matlock, but no matter: my mother interpreted situations often overlooked by most others, including those assumed to be in the know.

More often than not, her theories were correct.

In the aftermath of the tragedy at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, and in the reports that circulated regarding the life and times of Kevin Ward, Jr., my mother's lines of reasoning came to mind. While so many in-and-around the mainstream media seemed to suggest that perhaps Tony Stewart hit Ward while trying to send the 20-year-old sprint car driver a message about tangling with NASCAR veterans, yet another possible theory popped into my mind. It was the kind of supposition my late mother might create given the circumstances of that fateful Saturday night in upstate New York.

Might the death of Kevin Ward, Jr. been the result of a job audition gone wrong?

Here's a purely speculative question: did Ward race harder against Tony Stewart in those laps leading up to the point when Smoke's car made contact and sent the young driver's sprinter into the fence? Might such aggressive racing be fueled by the fact that Ward knew Stewart was more than just a three-time NASCAR champion, but also the owner of a fairly successful multi-car Sprint Cup racing operation?

What better way to get a car owner's attention then to race him hard and show him both your talent and your competitive drive. Such is the openness of motorsports: the fact that a big name driver can compete against up-and-comers on their own terms and on their own turf.

Imagine an NFL Super Bowl MVP suiting up and playing alongside two teams of talented high school footballers during a Friday night game. Picture a talented high school pitcher taking the mound against a major league batting champion. What better way to get noticed and remembered. It would be the ultimate tryout.

Was that not, perhaps, going through the mind of Kevin Ward, Jr. as he strapped in to race against Tony Stewart in front of a local crowd? Was the chance of maybe earning a job at Stewart-Haas Racing as a developmental driver spurring Ward on to drive into corners a little deeper, to stay on the throttle a little longer?

Sadly enough, we'll never know the truth.

There is no doubt that Ward wanted a career in automobile racing. You do not start running go-karts at the age of four and find yourself behind the wheel of a sprint car fourteen years later if you are not committed to learning the sport and climbing the competitive ladder.

That's about the same career path taken by Tony Stewart, among other NASCAR champions, is it not?

So did Ward see that ill-fated sprint car race on that tragic Saturday night as his shot at taking the next step – of reaching the next rung on that aforementioned ladder? Show the champ what you're made of, and just maybe he'll see you're made of true potential.

There is no doubt that Tony Stewart is an aggressive racer. There is also no doubt that Stewart has a bit of a fiery temper – or at least had one back before his stint of NASCAR-suggested anger management training.

It used to be a case of where there was Smoke, there was fire….

Now that Stewart wears the hat of a car owner, he has different responsibilities to uphold. Sure, he needs to keep those competitive fires burning, but he also needs to think about the future of his team, and the future of the sport he so dearly loves. Is it wrong to challenge younger drivers in hopes of seeing what courage and skill they possess? Not everyone with a helmet and a dream can make the big show, so is it wrong to bump and bang on a Saturday night in what amounts to a high-speed job interview?

And was it not in the best interest of young Kevin Ward, Jr. to show some of his own bravado after getting punted against the fence? Say what you will about adrenaline, anger, and the emotions of racing, but wasn't it necessary – especially if Ward was looking to grab Smoke's professional attention – for the 20-year-old to leave the safety of his car and stalk the track in order to demonstrate his mettle?

What young driver would ever get the opportunity to move south and step closer toward a NASCAR touring series career if he (or she) did not rise to the occasion when challenged and showcase their competitive nature? If Kevin Ward, Jr. did not want to make his name and reputation known to Tony Stewart, he likely would have stayed in his spun sprint car and waited to be pushed off the track.

And why shouldn't Stewart take notice of Ward's aggressive, no-holds-barred driving style? Given that SHR has at least one Cup driver struggling week in and week out, might not some fresh talent and eager determination be needed around the team?

As someone who works closely with 20-year-olds seeking future success, I can attest to their desire for getting noticed, making connections, and smoothing the road to a lucrative career. Give an enthusiastic young adult a chance to prove their abilities, and they'll typically put on quite a show.

If Ward did not have NASCAR aspirations when racing against a successful team owner with major corporate connections and professional opportunities galore, he most likely would have stayed put and allowed the race to continue without him.

Tragically, it is now the everyday lives of his family, friends, and community that will continue without him.

So, was Kevin Ward, Jr. looking to make a big impression on Tony Stewart when the three-time NASCAR champ came to town? Maybe he was. Racing hard against a veteran driver speaks more loudly than a neatly-printed resume on white paper. If Ward wanted to get noticed by one of the most talented and successful racers in the business, challenging him wheel-to-wheel in front of an enthusiastic audience was a pretty savvy approach.

Unfortunately, approaching Stewart's winged sprint car in traffic under dusty lights from a visually-limited angle was not so well thought-out. It's important to prove you can compete against the best, but not when you put yourself in harm's way doing so. Such was the advice my mother so often gave me whenever attempting some new experience.

My mother was a lifelong racing fan, and she knew as well as anybody the value of making good when necessary; getting opportunities to better yourself were few and far between, and I sincerely believe she would have interpreted the events at Canandaigua Motorsports Park that fateful Saturday night as an opportunity well worth the time and energy of young Kevin Ward, Jr.

We will never know the whole truth surrounding that tragedy, but we can speculate about more than just poor judgment on the parts of all those involved. Perhaps the underlying reason had more to do with showing potential than showing anger.

I only wish my mom was here to help make sense of the whole painful situation…

Dr. Mark Howell is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mark.howell@frontstretch.com.

~~~~~~~~~~

ADVERTISEMENT

Have a keen eye for racing news and want to show off your chops in front of an international audience? Frontstretch is looking for news writers to join our staff! We're looking for writers who can help us break and report on news from inside the racing community, from fielding press releases to going out and getting the story yourself. Interested applicants should email frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com with your name, contact info and three audition pieces -- two news stories taken from the day's breaking stories and one column/commentary piece. Please email Frontstretch with any questions.

~~~~~~~~~~

Tweet 'N' Greet
by Allen Bedgood

Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Allen Bedgood will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.

@SportsCenter: NASCAR announces new rule for exiting cars in wake of incident involving Tony Stewart that killed Kevin Ward, Jr. »http://es.pn/1rdiIVp

@AWMikePryson: Successful Ice Bucket Challenge at MIS! @MISpeedway @misroger @misssprintcup #shrinkage #als pic.twitter.com/L8WNR8Aagy

@Pat_DeCola: Best of luck, DC. Going to miss this guy -- > RT@dcaraviello: Last night in Charlotte pic.twitter.com/LjV4vVY7il
 
@JebBurtonRacing: Shark week on @Discovery makes me never want to get in the ocean again.

@Jratt33: The "Monkey" car of @Brendan62 ready to go this morning! #nch200 @nationwidekids @NationwideNNS pic.twitter.com/5DtpbGlfgU

@SherryPollex I've got a long road to recovery in front of me. 5 days in hospital, 6 months of chemo through a port & another year of Maintenance chemo!

@NASCARONFOX: @Ryan_Truex transported to local hospital after hard practice crash at @MISpeedway » http://foxs.pt/Vt4dOv #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/UWoOubJTqQ

@DGodfatherMoody: Rough start for @Ryan_Truex. Wrecked car, banged up driver. Walked to ambulance, but being checked at hospital. pic.twitter.com/gTUKphFgK0

@jwpennell: Early issues for @MWRteam's @ClintBowyer team @MISpeedway. Flat tire on the pit box. @NASCARONFOX #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/2M148PYMJK

@MartySmithESPN: I asked Jimmie Johnson what Ryan Newman said to him after the race: "A bunch of bullshit."

@Josh_Wise: We aren't where we want to be but we are def headed in the right direction @PPR98


@MISpeedway: @JeffGordonWeb definitely completed our #ALSIceBucketChallenge with some #PureMichigan400 style!

@The_ChrisMyers: It appears Johnny Manziel is not quite ready to be a professional... #NFL

@nascarcasm: Stay crassy Manziel... #browns #nfl pic.twitter.com/vFaEpeqaAd

@DennyHamlin: 2015 aero test was a bit disappointing... right up until the end. We may have found something that actually moves the needle for passing

@NASCARonNBC: Report: Comcast's Xfinity, @NASCAR closer to series sponsorship deal http://tw.nbcsports.com/vGC

@tomjensen100: Good to see a new sponsor in the sport for @jgr pic.twitter.com/G7OdpN3lx8

@ARRISISEVERYWHERE: ARRIS Joins @NASCAR Family and @JoeGibbsRacing http://www.arriseverywhere.com/2014/08/arris-joins-nascar-family-and-joe-gibbs-racing/

@KellyCrandall: Daniel Suarez and his new Nationwide ride #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/QNL4moQdra

@JoeGibbsRacing: Welcome to JGR, Carl Edwards! #JGRCarl pic.twitter.com/5alfSxabjC

@AndyLally: Did anybody put it together yet that they waited till the 19th to announce that Carl would drive the number 19? #NASCAR

@MartySmithESPN: Coach Gibbs says crew chief and team will be announced later on. "We think we have the talent that most of it will come from inside JGR"

@TeamBKR: Driver @RyanBlaney22 visiting with employees @CooperStandard in Surgoinsville,TN pic.twitter.com/13luRi2ISP

@bobpockrass: Man, someone needs to go directly to the barber shop pic.twitter.com/z3ECTJz8J5

@tomjensen100: Carl Edwards just told me, "Twitterless Carl Edwards? I saw that. Getting a lot of pressure to get on social media" #jgrcarl @JoeGibbsRacing

@NASCARDiversity: @BubbaWallace will run full-time for @JoeGibbsRacing in 2015, per J.D. Gibbs. Specifics TBA

@MartySmithESPN: Hamlin Chase prediction: Consistency will prevail in first 2 playoff segments. Raw speed will win out in the final 2 segments/championship.

@JennaFryer: TRD's Dave Wilson acknowledges Toyota engines are down on HP (compared to HMS) but lauds reliability.

@JamesBuescher: sad news... gave me my first full-time Truck ride...  RT @DGodfatherMoody: Circle Bar's Tom Mitchell Passes Away http://motorsports-soapbox.blogspot.com/2014/08/circle-bars-tom-mitchell-passes-away.html … #NASCAR

Allen Bedgood is a Photographer and Newsletter Contributor for Frontstretch. He can be reached via email at allen.bedgood@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter @AllenBedgood.

~~~~~~~~~~

GOT A NASCAR QUESTION OR COMMENT? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
That's right; our Fan Q & A column is back once again in 2014. Send your question Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print on Wednesday when she does her weekly column. It's all part of our daily mission to give back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat!

~~~~~~~~~~

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Did You Notice? ... Breaking Down Carl's New Ride And... New Owners Wanted
by Tom Bowles

The Frontstretch Five: Ways to Effectively Limit Cup Drivers in Other Series
by Amy Henderson

NASCAR Mailbox: Are Drivers With The Most Wins The Early Chase Favorites?
by Summer Bedgood

Beyond the Cockpit: Justin Boston on Beginnings, Transitions and a Bristol Debut

by Beth Lunkenheimer

NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Michigan
compiled by Mike Mehedin

by P. Huston Ladner

~~~~~~~~~~

FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA

Q: In 1991, Dale Jarrett memorably won his first career race in a photo finish with Davey Allison.  At Bristol, Jarrett was in good position to get No. 2 before an unusual issue put him out.  What happened?

Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!

Tuesday's Answer:

Q: The 1999 Goody's Headache Powders 500 is best known for Dale Earnhardt "rattling Terry Labonte's cage" all over Turn 2 on the final lap.  Jimmy Spencer benefited from the crash to finish second.  What did he try to do after the race?

A: Spencer, in a somewhat joking tone in a post-race interview, claimed on ESPN that he was trying to convince NASCAR to levy a three-second penalty on Earnhardt. While it would have been quite arbitrary if NASCAR bit on it (they didn't), such a move would have been similar to what NASCAR did to Ricky Rudd in the 1991 Banquet Frozen Foods 300k at then-Sears Point Raceway after Rudd spun out Davey Allison in Turn 11 coming to the white flag.  Allison wound up getting awarded the win in that race and the penalty, if levied here, would have been more than enough to give Spencer the win.

Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to triviaanswer@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!

~~~~~~~~~~

Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Critic's Annex by Phil Allaway
-- Potts' Shots by John Potts
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!

~~~~~~~~~~

Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:

Voice of Vito by Vito Pugliese
Vito returns to the website this week with his unique views on everything racing.

Going by the Numbers by Kevin Rutherford
Kevin returns with a look at the statistical side of NASCAR.

Tech Talk by Mike Neff
Mike is back with your look at the technical side of NASCAR. This week, Mike talks to Danica Patrick's crew chief, Tony Gibson, about the mood at Stewart-Haas Racing right now and how NASCAR's full-time female driver is adjusting to competition during her sophomore season.

Fantasy Insider by Jeff Wolfe
Jeff is back with your look at the best bets to fill your fantasy roster. This week, he preps you for your best bets as we head into Bristol.

Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth returns with your weekly look at the state of the Camping World Truck Series. This week, she brings you the post-race analysis from tonight's midweek showdown at Bristol.

~~~~~~~~~~
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2014 Frontstretch.com

--
--
Feel free to forward this newsletter if you have any friends who loves
NASCAR and great NASCAR commentary. They can subscribe to the Frontstetch by visiting http://www.frontstretch.com/notice/9557/.
 
If you want to stop your Frontstretch Newsletter subscription, we're sorry
to see you go. Just send an email to
TheFrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com from the address that you
recieve the Frontstretch Newsletter.

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Frontstretch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to thefrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

No comments:

Post a Comment